Sheridan Car Accident Attorney
About Johnston Law Firm
Beginning your Car Accident Cases in Sheridan
If you or a loved one have been injured or have passed away due to those injuries in a car accident, you and family may have a right to pursue compensation. If you are unfortunate enough to be in a car accident, the first step would be to make sure you and your loved ones are safe. The following steps should also be included in the process:
- Obtain pictures of vehicle damages, both of you and the other driver’s vehicles
- Pictures of license plates and street names
- Pictures of the other driver’s license and insurance coverage
- Call your insurance company and report the accident. DO NOT give a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with a car accident attorney
- File an official accident report with DMV within 72 hours of the accident
- Call us at the Johnston Law Firm so we can offer our best and most honest advice about what your best next step should be.
Damages Eligible for Compensation in Sheridan
- Economic Damages: compensate an injured plaintiff for direct financial losses, such as medication costs, hospitalization stays, surgery bills and lost wages. Economic damages are defined by Oregon law as “objectively verifiable monetary losses including but not limited to reasonable charges necessarily incurred for medical, hospital, nursing and rehabilitative services and other health care services, burial and memorial expenses, loss of income and past and future impairment of earning capacity”.
- Noneconomic Damages: compensate an injured plaintiff for more subjective losses such as emotional trauma or distress. Oregon law defines these as “subjective, non-monetary losses, including but not limited to pain, mental suffering, emotional distress, humiliation”. These damages are more difficult to quantify, as emotional pain can be traumatic and long-lasting, as well as difficult to recover from.
Determining Liability in Sheridan Car Accident Cases
As many factors as there are in car accident cases, determining liability is of the utmost importance and in many ways, dictates how the case will move forward. When an accident happens, insurance companies and other concerned parties will investigate the following:
- What kind of accident was it: rear-end, side swipe, head-on, highway collision?
- What the property damage looks like for all involved parties
- Types of injuries reported
- Past driving records
- Witness information (if there are any witnesses)
- Any other physical evidence
The investigation of these factors will make each interested entity (insurance, attorney’s office) decide on who was liable for this accident. The insurance company will conduct their own investigation on these circumstances, but when you hire an experienced Sheridan car accident lawyer, they will conduct a separate investigation into the facts of the incident. Sometimes in simple cases, such as a rear-end accident, full liability will be claimed by the at-fault driver’s insurance that same day. In other cases, where the details are a little more complex, liability may be tricky to be decided upon. Regardless of the complexity, we at the Johnston Law Firm will find the truth in what happened and will fight for what you deserve.
Testimonials
Sally Martinez
– Michelle E.
Mr. Johnston and his firm were incredibly thorough in getting us a fair settlement from our insurance company with little to no pressure. We really appreciated having someone who truly cared about us every step of the way. I would highly recommend the Johnston Law Firm to anyone in need of personal injury representation.
Frequently Asked Questions
This will depend on your insurance coverage but Personal Injury Protection (PIP) might be an option for you. PIP coverage comes from your own, or from another person’s auto insurance, and provides at least $15,000 of no-fault medical bill coverage so you can seek the treatment you need—even before health insurance kicks in to pay bills. PIP coverage also provides you with at least $15,000 of coverage if you cannot work because of injury.
If you are injured, your first step should be to seek medical attention for your injuries. Secondly, gather all information about the driver who hit you, including their driver’s license number, license plate number, insurance coverage information and vehicle damage. Take pictures if you are physically able. Your next step should be to call your insurance company and report the claim. At the same time, you should call a Lake Oswego car accident attorney who can act immediately to fully investigate the crash, gather insurance information and protect your rights. The Johnston Law Firm is glad to provide you with a free consultation and preliminary advice during this challenging time.
An attorney will gather evidence, organize medical bills, establish fault, recover testimony from witnesses, and prepare your benefits and your case for settlement or trial. You need an attorney with a track record for excellence. Oftentimes, an experienced Sheridan car accident attorney will be able to obtain a fair settlement of your case without having to go to trial, and oftentimes prior to having to file a lawsuit.
Johnston Law Firm, located in Portland, handles car accident claims throughout Oregon, including Sheridan.
Free Confidential Case Evaluation
Contact us today at
503-546-3167
to get a FREE, confidential case evaluation
We’re conveniently located in downtown Portland, and we offer flexible hours by appointment.